Campaigns and Campaigns and ElectionsElections

The nominating processThe nominating processCampaign organizationCampaign organization

Problems with campaign financeProblems with campaign financeOrganization and implementation of Organization and implementation of

electionselections

The nominationThe nomination► The 1The 1stst step: choosing of candidates within step: choosing of candidates within

each partyeach party► Narrows the field of possible candidatesNarrows the field of possible candidates► Self NominationSelf Nomination= was the main way until = was the main way until

the 1800’s (still used in small towns)the 1800’s (still used in small towns)► Candidate must file a Candidate must file a petitionpetition to be on the to be on the

ballot (number of signatures varies per state)ballot (number of signatures varies per state)► If not enough signatures to get on ballot, can If not enough signatures to get on ballot, can

be a “be a “write-in candidatewrite-in candidate”” Rarely successfulRarely successful

Party CaucusParty Caucus►Constitution doesn’t give instructions Constitution doesn’t give instructions

for nominating candidates for Pres./V.P..for nominating candidates for Pres./V.P..►1797, party leaders (wealthy, 1797, party leaders (wealthy,

influential) decided to keep power by influential) decided to keep power by holding caucusesholding caucuses Early meetings where party leaders chose Early meetings where party leaders chose

candidates in secret (voters had no part)candidates in secret (voters had no part)►By 1820, caucuses were controversial, By 1820, caucuses were controversial,

“King Caucus”…they faded away.“King Caucus”…they faded away.

Party Nominating ConventionParty Nominating Convention►Replaced caucusesReplaced caucuses►Official meeting of a political party Official meeting of a political party

candidates and delegates are chosen.candidates and delegates are chosen. Both systems have been abusedBoth systems have been abused Most states don’t use conventionsMost states don’t use conventions National convention still usedNational convention still used

The Direct PrimaryThe Direct Primary►Replaced convention system in most states.Replaced convention system in most states.►An election held within each party to pick An election held within each party to pick

candidates for the general election.candidates for the general election.►States usually set the dates and conduct.States usually set the dates and conduct.►Different kinds of primariesDifferent kinds of primaries

Closed primaryClosed primary Open primaryOpen primary Run-Off PrimariesRun-Off Primaries Nonpartisan electionsNonpartisan elections

Nominating Presidential Nominating Presidential CandidatesCandidates

► Begins with state primaries, caucuses and Begins with state primaries, caucuses and conventions, which are followed by the conventions, which are followed by the national party conventions.national party conventions. State parties, caucuses or conventionsState parties, caucuses or conventions National party conventionsNational party conventions

►Adopt the official party platformAdopt the official party platform►Decide who will be the party’s v.p. and pres. CandidatesDecide who will be the party’s v.p. and pres. Candidates►2-3000 delegates2-3000 delegates►Not as important in the nominating process as they Not as important in the nominating process as they

once were.once were.

The CampaignThe Campaign

Campaign- originally a military Campaign- originally a military wordword

►To win = organized, well planned, $ To win = organized, well planned, $ *see diagram on pg. 299*see diagram on pg. 299

►Campaign StrategyCampaign Strategy Aggressive vs. low key, issues?, Aggressive vs. low key, issues?,

theme/slogan? $ for t.v. etc…theme/slogan? $ for t.v. etc…►Traditional TechniquesTraditional Techniques

Door to doorDoor to door►Mass media and computerized techniquesMass media and computerized techniques►Opinion polls (tracking polls)Opinion polls (tracking polls)

3 ways campaigns make a 3 ways campaigns make a differencedifference

►Reawaken partisan loyalties of votersReawaken partisan loyalties of voters Right after a nomination, that persons Right after a nomination, that persons

popularity with both parties goes up. popularity with both parties goes up. Media attention during the summer Media attention during the summer months when not much else is going on.months when not much else is going on.

►See how candidates handle pressure See how candidates handle pressure Negative ads work by stimulating voter Negative ads work by stimulating voter

turnoutturnout►Allow the voter to judge the core Allow the voter to judge the core

values/character of the candidate.values/character of the candidate.

Campaign costsCampaign costs►Campaign finance lawsCampaign finance laws

Campaign-Financing LawsCampaign-Financing Laws►1971- FECA Federal Election Campaign Act1971- FECA Federal Election Campaign Act

No limits on overall spendingNo limits on overall spending Restricted amount to be spent on mass mediaRestricted amount to be spent on mass media Limited amount that candidates and their Limited amount that candidates and their

families could contribute to their own campaignsfamilies could contribute to their own campaigns Required candidates to disclose all expenditures Required candidates to disclose all expenditures

and contributions over $100and contributions over $100 $1 checkoff on federal income tax returns (has $1 checkoff on federal income tax returns (has

since been raised to $3)since been raised to $3)

Amendments to the Act: Amendments to the Act: 19741974► Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for

enforcement.enforcement.► Public financing for presidential primaries and Public financing for presidential primaries and

general elections.general elections.► Limits on pres. Campaign spending: if you agree to Limits on pres. Campaign spending: if you agree to

fed. Support, you must agree to limit expenditures.fed. Support, you must agree to limit expenditures.► Required disclosure.Required disclosure.► Limited contributions: citizens can give up to Limited contributions: citizens can give up to

$1000/candidate in each fed election or primary. $1000/candidate in each fed election or primary. Total limit for any individual in one year is $25,000. Total limit for any individual in one year is $25,000. Groups can contribute a max of $5,000 to a Groups can contribute a max of $5,000 to a candidate in any election.candidate in any election.

► 1976 Case: Buckley v. Valeo- court ruled 1976 Case: Buckley v. Valeo- court ruled unconstitutional the part that limits amount unconstitutional the part that limits amount candidate can spend on his/her own campaigncandidate can spend on his/her own campaign

Barack ObamaBarack Obama►Barack Obama became the first Barack Obama became the first

presidential nominee to opt out of the presidential nominee to opt out of the public funding system set up after the public funding system set up after the Watergate scandal.Watergate scandal.

►To date, he has raised nearly $650 To date, he has raised nearly $650 million (Nov. 4million (Nov. 4thth 2008) 2008)

►By contrast, John McCain, who opted for By contrast, John McCain, who opted for public funds has raised about 360 public funds has raised about 360 million dollars overall. million dollars overall.

►Analysts are now questioning that Analysts are now questioning that rules that govern how presidential rules that govern how presidential campaigns are funded and many campaigns are funded and many suggest this year's campaign sounds suggest this year's campaign sounds the death knell for public finance, the death knell for public finance, which is funded by voluntary taxpayer which is funded by voluntary taxpayer contributions. contributions.

PAC’sPAC’s►FECA gets amended again in 1976, FECA gets amended again in 1976,

corporations, labor unions, and interest corporations, labor unions, and interest groups can set up political action groups can set up political action committees to raise $ for candidates.committees to raise $ for candidates.

►Legitimacy- $ must come from at least Legitimacy- $ must come from at least 50 volunteer donors, must be given to 50 volunteer donors, must be given to at least 5 candidates.at least 5 candidates.

►Can contribute up to $5000 per Can contribute up to $5000 per candidate in each election.candidate in each election.

PAC’s ctd…PAC’s ctd…►# of PAC’s dramatically since the 70’s.# of PAC’s dramatically since the 70’s.► 1976, about 1,000 PAC’s.1976, about 1,000 PAC’s.► Early 2000’s more than 4700.Early 2000’s more than 4700.► Total spendingTotal spending

1973- $19 million 1999-2000- $900 million1973- $19 million 1999-2000- $900 million► They may conduct their own campaigns. They may conduct their own campaigns.

(can spend as much as they want on these)(can spend as much as they want on these)► Spend tons of $ on tv commercialsSpend tons of $ on tv commercials

Praise or attack ads.Praise or attack ads.► PAC’s tend to give more $ to incumbents.PAC’s tend to give more $ to incumbents.

Ethics and Political Ethics and Political CampaignsCampaigns

►$ and gaining public office.$ and gaining public office.►How can the avg. person get a seat in How can the avg. person get a seat in

Congress?Congress?►The need for $ creates questionable The need for $ creates questionable

fundraising techniques.fundraising techniques.►Once in office, how can someone Once in office, how can someone

ignore those who gave the $?ignore those who gave the $?►Negative campaign advertising.Negative campaign advertising.

Problems with enforcing Problems with enforcing Campaign-Financing Campaign-Financing

RulesRulesLoopholesLoopholes

Soft moneySoft money

►2000 election, about $900 million 2000 election, about $900 million spent.spent.

►Only $167 million came from the Only $167 million came from the federal government.federal government.

►What about the other $733 million?What about the other $733 million?

►LOOPHOLESLOOPHOLES

Avoiding Campaign Financing Avoiding Campaign Financing RulesRules

►2 significant loopholes2 significant loopholes Soft Money, Foreign ContributionsSoft Money, Foreign Contributions

►Soft Money: Nothing prevents people or Soft Money: Nothing prevents people or corporations from contributing to corporations from contributing to political parties. “Party building” costs. political parties. “Party building” costs. Difficult to track.Difficult to track.

►Soft dollars have become the main Soft dollars have become the main source of campaign $ in the pres. Race.source of campaign $ in the pres. Race.

►More than twice in 1996, than in 1992!!!!More than twice in 1996, than in 1992!!!!

► Foreign Contributions: it is against federal Foreign Contributions: it is against federal law for political parties or candidates in the law for political parties or candidates in the U.S. to accept $ from foreign sources.U.S. to accept $ from foreign sources.

►During the 1996 elections, 10’s of millions During the 1996 elections, 10’s of millions were sent from foreign sources to U.S. were sent from foreign sources to U.S. candidates and political parties. candidates and political parties.

► Legal U.S. residents, even if they have Legal U.S. residents, even if they have foreign citizenship, can make contributions foreign citizenship, can make contributions to political parties.to political parties.

► U.S. branches of foreign companies can U.S. branches of foreign companies can contribute, provided the funds were made in contribute, provided the funds were made in the U.S. (NOT)the U.S. (NOT)

Reform Campaign Financing?Reform Campaign Financing?►Americans think we should! Can’t Americans think we should! Can’t

agree how.agree how.►Ban or limit contributions by PAC’s’ Ban or limit contributions by PAC’s’

Pro- they favor incumbentsPro- they favor incumbents Con- this would place more power in the Con- this would place more power in the

hands of gov’thands of gov’t►Ban or limit foreign contributionsBan or limit foreign contributions

Problem- what is a foreign company?Problem- what is a foreign company?

Campaign Finance ctd…Campaign Finance ctd…►Ban or Limit Soft-Money ContributionsBan or Limit Soft-Money Contributions►Remove all limits on Private Campaign Remove all limits on Private Campaign

Spending (document all)Spending (document all)►The Free Speech issueThe Free Speech issue

Buckley v. ValeoBuckley v. Valeo

Money and WinningMoney and Winning► In the general election for Pres. $ doesn’t In the general election for Pres. $ doesn’t

make much difference b/c both major party make much difference b/c both major party candidates have the same amount.candidates have the same amount.

►During peacetime, 3 things decide:During peacetime, 3 things decide: Political party affiliationPolitical party affiliation State of the economyState of the economy Character of the candidatesCharacter of the candidates

► 80 % of the vote will go to the 2 major 80 % of the vote will go to the 2 major parties. This means that the election will be parties. This means that the election will be decided by the 20% who can’t be counted decided by the 20% who can’t be counted on to vote either Dem. Or Rep.on to vote either Dem. Or Rep.

Structure of American Structure of American ElectionsElections

General Elections and Special ElectionsGeneral Elections and Special ElectionsGeneral Election- regularly scheduled, General Election- regularly scheduled,

voters choose who will hold many voters choose who will hold many public offices.public offices.

Special Elections- When an issue must Special Elections- When an issue must be decided before the next gen. be decided before the next gen. Election. Election.

Initiative, referendum, recallInitiative, referendum, recall

BallotsBallots►Early days = people gathered in a Early days = people gathered in a

central place and called out their vote. central place and called out their vote. (influenced?)(influenced?)

►1800’s, paper ballots. Different 1800’s, paper ballots. Different colored ballots, ballot box was in plain colored ballots, ballot box was in plain view.view.

►Australian Ballot- secretAustralian Ballot- secret

The Electoral CollegeThe Electoral College► 11stst step- general election (pop. Vote) step- general election (pop. Vote)► Electors are chosen by the state’s political Electors are chosen by the state’s political

parties.parties.► Each state has as many electoral votes as they Each state has as many electoral votes as they

have Senators + Reps. There are also 3 have Senators + Reps. There are also 3 electors from D.C..electors from D.C..

►Winner take all (except ME,NE)Winner take all (except ME,NE)► Electors meet in Dec., votes counted by Electors meet in Dec., votes counted by

Congress in Jan.Congress in Jan.►Need more than ½ of the 538 electoral votes Need more than ½ of the 538 electoral votes

(270 to win)(270 to win)

If no one gets a majority of electoral votes, the House votes for Pres.

►There have been more than 500 There have been more than 500 amendments calling for changes. amendments calling for changes. None have passed.None have passed.